Gasoline flowmeter



Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Oct. 10, 1950 A. E. HILL. 2,654,245

GASOLINE FLOWMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 A. E. HILL GASOLINE FLOWMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1950 INVENTOR. E'- HZ'Z ATTEI RN EYS $654,245 *easumm Albert-m. mu, mama- 10m. Aiiiiiiefimniuioheri1o, IQ OZSei'SaP-Nm' 139.1449

hmaims. (Gi i-$ 210) "This inventionTlatesto flow meter, and [mane Tlrsfc'mhjartment ii,'ahd"the *fue1 line "meter which is adapted to begpdsitidnd in the "nectthe flielilil'le f qit 'the'dther compartment 'fuelline between the rueli pumpand'carburetcirfif 2,, and the fuel, 1in'e80 serves cg-convey gasoline --a vehicle, such -'-as' {an alutorribbile, "Wherby the j'br" "'f tlel "fi'dm"tfhe "compartment 26' to'the engine -'-meter--wi-11 accuratelyiirdicate theamount df fuel *carbureter. V

being used in-ga-Hbneper heur, or' ether units. Extendingthrqugh the-compartment 2'5 1 is *a 'Another object 6f thee-mention is to -prvide-a "rdd BZQIffgure 5.. The'rdd32includes'a threaded fiow'meter for measiuring fueI ra'teg' the' fiownieter portion '33 which is arranged in threaded enbeing installed in the vehicle without necesitatfig'agmentIWith aninteriorly' threadedShoulder}!I ing-any change'in-'-the*yehicle electrical -wiring thatjis fermed integ'rally with'the section zl. A

1531513 111, the flowinet'erregistei i-ng accurateiyeven --r1-'ut 34"serves to maintain-*the rod 32 immobile in v further tso g wm m r up vm =so' th-at a suitable -tool such as-a screw-driver can a flow meter which isextremely simple and inbe-use'd fbr al li u fifig the positien-ofthe red '32. pexpens'ive 1 .manflffacturg I he' bther end- 0f tlierdd-W is tapered Or -pointed,

ot Obje ts .afidiafdva ntages g yu 1 ii er p t =62!) as'-at 36,--and the -pointed end 36 extends "into the In the accompanying drawingsfdrmin i. part -scribcl.

0f this application; and in' whic'h -1ike numerals sl-idably mo hted b th r 3 -i a. je sl v are used 1-, designate slik part irbhrqughgut m 5 31,:and-fthe ssleeve 31.x.is provided with an annular same: enlairgeinent238. a 'Extending' through the enlarge- "of the present inventionpas'the'flbw me-ter wbuld perfin sw; n th p n efll c mmunic te appear mounted i t f rqa zb t e it rga with a. longitudinally extending bore 39, the bore 7 pump and carburetor; '-i39 textending ilongitudinally through the sleeve Figure 2 is a sectional-view taken en the iirie 13 0 s' f s' a as l n 'will 52- 2 of Figure 1; ibei-ableto fiowrirom theicompartment' 25, through Figure 3z'is a sectional view -taken: on the line *ithe DQ g thence thrdu hthe' bore 39, and 3-3 of Figure 1; f into the second eompartmentfi6, when the dia- Figure i is a sectionallview taiken onfizlie iine -phragm' flaisi properly positioned. "One end of "4-4 of Figure 3; 535 -thevsleeve 3:1siisi shaped"toidefine ian'exteriorly Figure 5 1 1 mn; g g yr ws it gamgt ithreadd fcollar'vfil,@and a nut .42 is arranged in ing rod and 'the metering' rod jet sleeve; threadedengagement with'the collar. 'A' large Figure 6 is adetail:sectional'view-ef the metrw er is ci ii collar y mg rod jet sleeve and- 'rheciiitat'sw iper dri've'; the was'her i'3 is interposed i'loetween the nut' efi Figure? is a fragmentary sectionalviw-Slfiwr diaphragm 24. n p e 'between the iing a modifiedl'flowimeter. ienlargement '38 aindthe diaphragm 24 is; a see- ";i j iondiwwasher 4'4. rByimeans *of this constructioma Referring in detail-t0 F'igures l through the drawings; the'numeral 20 designa'tesi-a :fluid-Itight .sealaisefiectedubetween the compart- Ihousingwhich maybe' iabricated Of any suit file 11 and 82180 between the diaphragm and material; and thea'housing ifl inciliids a iiair r r i'rhus, when eufficientig'a'sdline is Joeing 18661116113 2| and lzzrawhichtsare iitachabiyireanidiawnsintotheicarburetorflfromth .compartment nested 'togetlierlhy suitabie screwsii seriieure s. 26, the diaphragm 24 will movei'sflmcienfly'i-o -M0unted between the'meeting edges f ttlie ipir -t=herebyim'ove the eleevew'lsalong the rod '32; so

of sections: hand; 2221ssagdiaphragmi'iflfiihettfiaethatigasolinezcanzflovwafremithercdmibartment25 fie iopemend- 'df ithEi-SIEBVfiQi-TEHWU :thecompartment diaphragm 24 defines *wi'thin theiihofi'sing mz a 3 compartment 25 and rotatably supported by a boss 48 is a shaft it, Figure 3. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft i! is a gear 38, and the gear d9 meshes with gear teeth 58 that are arranged longitudinally along the exterior surface of the sleeve 31. Thus, when the sleeve 3? moves, as previously described, there will be a rotary movement of the shaft 4i. A wiper arm has one end connected to the upper end of the shaft 4'! by a set screw 52, so that by loosening the set screw 52, the position of the wiper arm 5| on the shaft All can be adjusted. The wiper arm 5! frictionally engages the rheostat 35 so that the amount of current flowing through the electrical circuit will vary, depending upon the position of the wiper arm 55 with respect to the rheostatfiS.

A spring member 53 has one endconnected to an anchor element 56 by means'of a set screw 55, Figure l, and the anchor element 54 is connected to the top of the housing in any suitable manner. The other end of the spring member 53 is connected to a clamp 58 by means of a screw 51. A screw 58 serves to lock the clamp 56 onto the shaft 41, so that by loosening the screw 58, the position of the clamp 55 can be varied in order to adjust the tension on the spring member 53.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes a conventional indicatinggauge which is indicated by the numeral 59, Figure 1. 'The gauge 59 may include a casing 69, and arranged in the casing (ii) is a pair of coils 5i and 62. A suitable electric wire 53 serves to ground the coil El, and a wire 8 serves to electrically connect the coil 65! to a contact 65, the contact being connected to the coil 52 by a suitable wire The coil 62 is also electrically connected to the rheostat 4-5 by means of a wire or cable 6?, and a wire 68 serves to ground the housing 29. The numeral E9 designates a switch which may be the ignition switch of an automobile, there being a wire or cable it electrically connecting the switch 89 to the contact 65, and the switch 69 is electrically connected to the battery H. Arranged in the casing Gil is an armature l4, and connected to the armature TM is a pointer element $3, the pointer element l3 adapted to coact with an indicating scale or dial 1'2 that may be graduatedin gallons per hour.

Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a slightly modified portion of a flow meter which includes a hollow housing 15, and the housing 755 includes a pair of sections it and H. Mounted in the housing is is a diaphragm i8, and the diaphragm l8 defines a first compartment '19 and a second compartment Ell. Extending. through the compartment 18 is a rod 8!, therod 5! including a threaded portion 82 that is arranged in engagement with the section 16. The rod 8! projects into a sleeve 86 and terminates on the left side of diaphragm '38, Figure '7. The sleeve 85 is slidably arranged on the rod 8!, and the sleeve 8% is threaded, as at 83, and is also provided with annular washer 85 which is arranged contiguous to a nut 84, the nut 84 being arranged in engagement with the threaded end 33 of the sleeve 85 A washer i is arranged on the other side-of the diaphragm l8.

Thus, when the diaphragm i8 is moved by pressure of fuel, there will be a consequent movement of the sleeve 88. When the sleeve 35 moves, there will be a movement of the previously-described wiper arm along th rheostat to thereby actuate the indicating gauge 59.

Mounted below the housing 75, or formed integrally therewith, is a casing 81, and a bushing 88 4 serves to connect a suitable pipe to the casing 81, so that fuel can be conveyed from the fuel pump into the casing 81. A second bushing 9! serves to connect a pipe or fuel line to the other end of the casing 8'5 so that fuel can be conveyed to the carburetor from the casing 81. Arranged within the casing 81 is a partition 39, the partition 89 provided with an aperture 99 for the egress therethrough of fuel. The partition as defines a first compartment 92 and a second compartment 93. The first compartment 92 communicates with compartment is by means of an opening or aperture as, while the other compartment 93 communicates with the compartment 86 through the medium of an aperture or opening 95.

The flow meter of the present invention is actuated when the fuel flow changes and the flow meter will indicate continuously the gallons per hour that the auto is using at the instant the gauge is read. The spring member 53 is of the fiat coiled type used in clock mainsprings, and the clamp 55 is slipped down over the shaft 41 before the wiper arm 5! is installed. Whenever the tension of the spring member 53 is to be changed, the screw 58 can be loosened and the clamp rotated around the shaft 4? to the desired direction. It will be noted that with this arrangement the gear 49 will be held in tension against the gear rack 50 on the sleeve 3'1, thus eliminating any back lash between these parts. The wiper arm 5! is secured to the shaft 4'! by the set screw 52, so that it can be adjusted. The flow meter of the present invention will accurately measure the amount of gasoline going through the carburetor when the engine is running, and this information will be transmitted to the gauge 59. Fuel from the pump enters compartment 25 through the pipe 28, and this fuel will fill up compartment 5 and exert pressure on the diaphragm 24, the diaphragm also acting as a gasket between the sections of the housing 24}. The washer 53 transmits the power or pressure applied to the diaphragm is to the sleeve 3i, the diaphragm 24 being attached to the sleeve 37 by the nut ea. In assembling the apparatus, a washer 4 .1 is first threaded or slipped over the collar e l next the diaphragm 24 is positioned over the collar Ill and then the washer d3 retaining nut G2 are positioned on the collar '25. This will insure that a leak-proof seal is provided a The spring member is is attached to the shaft in such a manner so as to apply pressure onto the sleeve 3? through the gear 55, so that the sleeve 3? is forced back against the end wall of the section 2!. In Figure l, the source of power may be the battery H, and the wiring system is exactly the same as that used in indicating fuel quantity in fuel tanks and several types of automobiles now in general use. The gauge 59 is conventional and may be calibrated in gallons per hour. Current from the battery ii travels to the ignition key is and when the ignition key or switch 69 is turned on, current will flow through wire 18 to the terminal or contact 85. From the terminal 65, the current travels through the two wires 64 and 65 to the coils El and 62. Coil 61 is a potential coil, and coil 62 is a series coil. These two coils attract or move the pointer element 73 which is attached to the armature 14. Thus, since these two coils are small electromagnets, the one which has the most current passing through it will exert the most force or attraction on the armature M. The potential coil 6| will have a certain percentage of available current fromvthe battery "H, passing through it is I as follows:

. ,flow varies through these es oili62ftheipointer ,element [53 will Lac ord gly. ,,.Wh i1 3.

great r amount f cu e it iiqwsTt, roiig'h'tiie 1 series coil :62, thepoihter ielem e nt T3 will "have mi a n aj re'a tf iellf i i the e... se.

tail-he od. 3. en.- be ad ust d .br .9 se i h c u a theri sc ewin theme. 3141 132 .putio si et e QQll GQQ des red 1 1. ery i diisat n the he tat a- .IIA Order tg setq "bal nce. on, the pressu e a a nst th .siiaphragm .24 n. hecoinner ehtzathehead pr nemeinhe 1 p vide e. 1i re.w l ea s i ,hr s ur drQp whent e. iuel. f om the. om a me t 25. low i to. hecq partmentlfi Pa t th -ta r dend his lo QI.-ll .'.e. .lll.l n.b ontrolled and is controlled by the spring member .53, Thus, by means of thesprin member 53, a

,fairlyconstant header gifferentialmressure be-' ,tween the compartment and the compartment 26 is assured. The tension ofthesp m b 53 can be, adjusted by the adjusting screw 58.

To transmit the movement of the diaphragm 24 to the rheostat 45, the gear rack 50 is provided" on the sleeve 31, "and the gear rack 5fiin'shes with thegearjfi on the shaft 41, the shaft 41 driving. the wiper arm 5 over the rheostat restances 45. Suitable numbersmay be arranged ositi'ons of "the'parts w; he instrument is being' calibrated. 'The'opej tionf'of theia'pp'aratus Fuel e'nte I pompartment 525 through the pipe 28 and'fills"the'cbmpartriienfl5.

This forces the diaphragm 24 to the right, Fig-" ure 3, so as to overcome the pressure of the spring member 53. The position of the diaphragm 24, as shown in Figure 3, is such as to indicate that the fuel flow has stopped. As the diaphragm 24 with the sleeve 31 moves to the right, the end or collar 4! moves out over the tapered end 36 of the rod 32, thus creating an opening for fuel to flow from the compartment 25 into the compartment 26. Therefore, the further the diaphragm 24 and sleeve 31 move to the right, the greater the opening between the collar and the tapered end 36, so that consequently, the more fuel will flow into the compartment 26 and into the carburetor. The small holes 4|] in the sleeve 31 permit passage of fuel from the compartment 25 through the sleeve 31 into the compartment 26. The area between the collar 4| and the tapered end 36 will vary depending upon the position of the diaphragm 24, and the greater the fuel flow, the further the diaphragm 24 will be forced to the right. Thus, as the diaphragm 24 is forced to the right, the wiper arm 5| of the rheostat assembly is moved over the resistance or rheostat 45. Therefore, the smaller amount of resistance will be set up in the rheostat when the fuel flow increases, and conversely when there is a smaller fuel flow, there will be more resistance set up in the rheostat 45. After the fuel enters the compartment 26, it will pass out through the pipe and into the engine carburetor.

This movement of the diaphragm 24 is brought about as the result of stepping on the accelerator. Thus, as the accelerator is depressed, more fuel will be drawn from the compartment 26, so that H re'dbrpointd ermit rhorefuel to enterthe compartment 26. When the pressure incom- .partment 26, to ether with the tens'ibni'of'the ompartment zsg'ui'ef di'arihia'gm'za anwsieeve ,ia'fwiu assuni a st ibiiary se men ed this hfew Li 'sititntvill tet ns itt'edtothe wearer-mas. Thus tl'ie free opening or space 'ibetw'ee the ""d tap'ered'er'i'd3'6'will'fbefmeasured.,

, H arriieipasses thi'oug hftlie 20' orificeffifl in the" art'iti'on orplate 89' and fills th oiripartmefit compartmems'ie and eeiar s'epaiate ihpiete1y by the iapmagrn m,

that fuel. heifer s'ss' direeuyrro' 'theeompart'rrleht l9 wit artment to :or viceive e 25 the "fuel passes t oughf the orifice "5 6," there "will be a:prsetermined'prs re cr j depe in op I) fcre'atea c I mpartmenti 9 willifor eeftl'ie ural t'ow ard the com ar me" tfiiduntil tl e for 'as'semblyw wn" in''F gur'e"7 is'= identical with-the rheosta gauge shom inFigures 1 ft irough 6. Therefore, thegreate the-fuel flow, thegreat'er'theeirfrentiaipressuretetweenecmpartments l5 and 86, and this causes the diaphragm 76 to seek a new position.

Referring to Figure 1, the path of the electric current can be traced as it passes through the various parts of the apparatus. Thus, current passes through the series coil 62, then through the wire 61 and into the rheostat 45. The current must now pass through the rheostat 45 in order to reach the wiper arm or brush 5|, so that it can continue on to ground through wire 68. Since electricity takes the path of least resistance, the more resistance set up in the rheostat by the position of the wiper arm 5 l, the less current will flow through the series coil 62, and consequently, this coil Will exert less attraction on the armature 14. This condition will occur when there is a low fuel flow. As the fuel flow increases, the Wiper arm 51 will be forced to move over the rheostat 45 in a counterclockwise direction, Figure 1. This action will cause a decrease in the resistance to the flow of current through the coil 62 and therefore, more current will flow through the series coil 6|, so that the-coil 6i will have an increased attraction for the armature 14 to thereby cause 65 the pointer element to indicate a corresponding increase in fuel flow on the indicating gauge 59. As fuel starts flowing, the wiper arm 5| is forced around the resistance in the rheostat in a clockwise direction, and as the wiper arm 5| moves over the rheostat, the pointer element 73 will move correspondingly to indicate gallons per hour or any fraction thereof.

Furthermore, the condition and load on the electrical system will not affect the operation of 75 the apparatus. Thus, a sudden heavy load on the electrical system, such as turning on bright lights,

radio, heater and the like, will not cause the pointer element to drop or fluctuate even if the generator is not putting out. The armature M is constructed so that it will return to zero, since it is weighted on one side. Also, the flow meter can be constructed so that it has a square shape if desired.

I claim:

1. In a flow meter, a housing, apertured diaphragm arranged in saidhousing and defining a first and second compartment, a pipe connected to said first compartment for conveying fuel thereto, a pipe communicating with said second compartment for conveying fuel therefrom, an electrically actuated gauge for indicating the rate of flow of fuel through said pipes, and means responsive to movement of said diaphragm for actuating said gauge, said means comprising a hollow sleeve connected to said diaphragm, a rod extending through said sleeve and having a tapered end projecting through said first compartment, said sleeve and said diaphragm, there being a plurality of spaced openings arranged in said sleeve, a rheostat arranged exteriorly of said housing, a shaft rotatably projecting through said first compartment, a wiper arm mounted on the outer end of said shaft for engaging said rheostat, and gear means connecting the inner end of said shaft to said sleeve, an end of said rod being fixed to the housing whereby relative movement between the tapered end of the rod and the diaphragm permits flow from the first to the second compartment.

2. The apparatus as described in c1aim 1, wherein said last-named means comprises a gear on said shaft meshing with teeth on the sleeve.

3. In combination, a hollow housing including a pair of sections connected together, an apertured diaphragm mounted between said sections and defining a first and second compartment, a pipe for conveying fuel from a source of supply to said first compartment, a pipe for conveying fuel away from said second compartment, a rod extending through said first compartment and through said diaphragm, said rod having a pointed end extending into said second compartment; a sleeve connected to said diaphragm and slidably arranged on said rod and provided with a plurality of radially extending bores communicating with said first compartment, a shaft rotatabiy supported by said housing, gear means connecting the inner end of said shaft to said sleeve, a rheostat mounted on the top of said housing, a wiper arm carried by the outer end of said shaft for engagement with said rheostat, a spring member operatively connected to said shaft, and an indicator gauge electrically connected to a source of electrical energy and to said rheostat, an end of said rod being fixed to the housing whereby relative movement between the tapered end of the rod and the diaphragm permits flow from the first to the second compartment.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said indicating gauge is graduated so as to indicate rate of flow of fuel through said pipes upon movement of said diaphragm.

" ALBERT E. HILL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,416,220 Long et al May 16, 1922 1,921,550 Swallen Aug. 8, 1933 2,178,422 Heagney Oct. 31, 1939 2,273,331 Rowerdink Feb. 17, 1942 2,329,142 Shank Sept, '7, 1943 

